Seal.



R. G. 'HOYEBH,

SEAL.

.APPLIUATIOR FILED JUNE 2a, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9,1910.

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UNITED srnrns RUDOLPH C. I-IOYER, 0F MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

SEAL.

Application filed June 28, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH. G. HOYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montgomery, in the county of Montgomery and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Seal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in seals for envelops, or other containers having wrappers of paper or other similar fabric, and has for its principal object to provide a simple device of the character described, which can be readily manufactured, easily applied to an envelop, and whenever applied will constitute an efiective seal for the same, preventing the contents thereof from being tampered with or abstracted without detection, and without mutilating the envelop or container or destroying the seal. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is adapted to be readily ap-' plied to any form of envelop now in general use, without any alteration whatsoever of the said envelop.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and size, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a view showing the seal in position upon the en velop preparatory to fastening the top flap thereof. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and showing the envelop ready for sealing. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section showing the envelop sealed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sealing device, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the same.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the invention comprises a seal which is formed from a flat sheet metal strip, the material thereof being of such nature that the said strip may be readily bent. The seal is bent upon itself to form a substantially U-shaped or V- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

Serial No. 504,864.

shaped figure of two equal leaves or arms 6-6 facing each other and connected at their inner ends. Each of said leaves is provided with one or more slender inwardly projecting and substantially V-shaped teeth or'prongs 7 which are sharpened at their extremities and are preferably stamped from the metal from which the leaves are formed, the points of the opposite prongs being separated a suflicient distance as shown in Fig. 5, for a purpose hereinafter described. The teeth of one of the leaves are arranged out of alinement with the teeth of the other leaf, so as to engage with or impinge upon the solid portion of the leaf in clenching the points of the teeth. It will also be observed that the teeth are rearwardly curved. By this construction, the teeth will be caused to be readily bent upon the compression of the. two leaves. The openings formed by the teeth are arranged between the said teeth and the juncture of the leaves. Thus, when the leaves are compressed, the material will be clamped between the teeth and their respective openings.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that after the contents of the envelop have been inserted in the usual manner, the seal is applied to the envelop 8 at the junction of the end and bottom flaps 9 and 10 respectively, in such a manner that the leaves 6-6 straddle and simultaneously engage the said flaps. The point 11 of the top flap 12 of the envelop is bent inwardly or under as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; The said top flap is then bent down and the point 11 thereof is inserted between the inwardly extending teeth or prongs 7 of the said seal, as shown by reference to Fig. 2. The leaves are then compressed by a slight pressure which causes the teeth or prongs to pierce all the flaps and to be deflected and flattened, as shown by Fig. 8 of the drawing. Thus it will be seen that the seal is completely covered and concealed by the top flap, and that all the superimposed flaps are clamped thereby without injuring the contents of the envelop, or detracting from its appearance or usefulness.

It will be observed that this device is an extremely simple article which can be manufactured at small cost, and that it will readily impress and clamp the various flaps sothat it becomes impossible to open the envelop, or mutilate the same without detection.

While the invention is shown in connection with an ordinary envelop,.it is not limited to such use but maybe employed with through the flap. Furthermore, it is especially advantageous for use in connection with any folding sheet for the purpose of improvising an envelop. The several folds can be assembled, and all the flaps thereof may be quickly clamped together without difficulty.

This invention is distinguished from others in'several important respects. First, the provision of prongs or teeth on both of the leaves, this being necessary to insure the elfective piercing and clenching of the flaps when sealing the-envelop by thumb pressure. When prongs project from .only one of the leaves, the intervening flaps are notsupported on opposite points and they cannot be retained in a secure manner. Second, it is not necessary to form any openings in the flap or body of the envelop to adjust or support the device in position when applying the same. Third, the provision of the inward fold or bend at the point of the top or free flap permits the ready insertion of all the flaps between the jaws or leaves of .the sealing device, in order that they all .be pierced and clenched simultaneously, and this without making it necessary for the sealing device to be attached previously to any part of the envelop.

What I claim is 1. In combination with an envelop, a substantia1lyU-shaped metallic seal having inwardly extending teeth, said seal being adapted to straddle the wall of the envelop,

the top. or free flap being passed over and beyond the said seal and the point thereof folded inwardly-under and engaged with the teeth of the seal, so as to be simultaneously clamped and retained with the other flaps upon the compression of the said seal.

2. 'In combination with an envelop, a seal therefor composed of a fiat strip of metal which is doubled upon itself to form opposite clamping leaves, each leaf being provided near its free ends wit-h inwardly extending teeth, the teeth of one leaf being arranged out of alinement with the teeth of the other leaf, said seal being adapted to,

straddle the top wall of the envelop at the center thereof where the several flaps have their junction, the top or free flap being passed over and beyond said seal and having 

